GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T knows what it has in sophomore running back Tarik Cohen. As the conference season approaches, the Aggies need to make sure their other offensive parts are finely tuned.
It certainly looks that way. A&T's offense ran with precision in a 59-0 blowout of Division II Chowan Saturday night at Aggie Stadium.
Junior quarterback Kwashaun Quick had a career night, finishing 15 of 21 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. His completions, completion percentage (.714), passing yards and touchdown passes were all career highs. His 55-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Griffin in the first half was the longest completion of his career.
In the process of scorching the Hawks defense, Quick connected with 10 different Aggie receivers. Senior receiver Desmond Lawrence benefited the most with five receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown.
To top off his day, Quick also had another stellar rushing performance with 82 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. It marked the third time this season he has rushed for more than 80 yards in a game.
“I felt like we came out a little sluggish, but we picked it up real quick,” said Quick. “We connected in the passing game like we've wanted to do all year. We just took what the defense gave us and tried to execute the best we could. It turned out pretty good for us.”
Cohen wasn't completely absent from the Aggies offense. Even though his four-game streak of rushing for 100 yards or more was snapped with his seven-carry, 35-yard performance, Cohen did add three rushing touchdowns to his season total of seven. It was his second career three-touchdown game after scoring three times against Florida A&M last season.
“I felt like we played a good all-around football game,” said Cohen. “Our offense was going hard; our defense was going hard; we were really connecting. Everything was functioning well.”
Donald Mattocks served as the Aggies' defensive star on Saturday. Mattocks intercepted a school record three first-half passes. The Aggies intercepted five passes from Chowan quarterback Dain McDonald.
Mattocks would have returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown but was called for excessive celebration before he stepped into the end zone. Instead of a touchdown, the ball was moved back to the Chowan 17-yard line where two plays later Quick found Lawrence open underneath for a 15-yard touchdown reception that gave the Aggies a 52-0 lead.
It was the biggest halftime lead in school history and it was the most points ever scored by an Aggies team in the first half.
“It was a lopsided win, but a win is a win,” said head coach Rod Broadway. “I thought our guys played well in the first half and played like you should play when you're playing a team like that. We are going to try to make some improvements before we go up to (Washington DC) to play.”
The Aggies (1-0) begin conference play next week when they travel to the nation's capital to face the Howard Bison 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 at Greene Memorial Stadium. Freshman Marquell Cartwright led the Aggies in rushing with 87 yards on 14 carries.
Well, I don't know,” said Broadway when asked whether the Aggies were ready conference play. “I feel good about our players and our team and our coaching staff and what we are doing. We just have to prepare and get ready. I know that we have to make a lot of improvements between now and then, which is always the case around here.”
